I’m talking about youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin who recently said “young Malaysians prefer to be known as Bangsa Malaysia in the next 30 years”.
I’m not too clear about the “next 30 years” bit. Does this mean young Malaysians want to wait 30 years before they are called Bangsa Malaysia, and would remain Chinese, Indians, Malays and “lain lain” while waiting for that to happen?
Or they have resigned to the fact that nothing can be done now or in the near future, and are thus being “realistic” that the nation can only give birth to Bangsa Malaysia in 30 years’ time?
Never mind!
So, what does Khairy intend to do with the information he has now?
He can brief the cabinet and give a detailed report complete with recommendations and suggestions to his boss, the prime minister. What then?
Will the recommendations and suggestions be implemented? Will we see the creation of pasukan petugas khas bertaraf tinggi or high-level special task force to look into the proposal secara terperinci?
To be known as Bangsa Malaysia is, in reality, everybody’s dream. Well, most Malaysians anyway. Not only the young.
We want to be known simply as Malaysians rather than by our racial or ethnic origins. And we have been talking about it for ages. Since our Malayan days and when Malaysia was formed in 1963. And we continue to talk about it today. Yet, we have what we have now. Everybody knows what that is. No elaboration needed.
Never mind what Khairy said can make good “campaign material” in the run-up to GE14 which many people believe will be held soon. Give credit to Khairy for saying what he did.
So, after saying it, now it’s time to act.
Young Malaysians told Khairy that they want the wall separating the races in this country to be demolished. Hence, the minister who is also Umno Youth head should use his influences to work towards that.
But, will he do it? And can it be done? I am not pouring cold water over it. It’s just that it has always been politicians, in particular those from Khairy’s party, who are known to have created segregation of sorts by labeling the rakyat as pendatang, the “nons” and what not.
And often they are the ones who whip up the sentiment of the rakyat to distrust one another and depend on the politicians to protect them and guarantee their existence.
And his party is proud to announce that it is the only party that will defend, safeguard and uplift Islam and Malay Muslims.
Thus prompting Umno’s friends in the BN to also profess to fight and defend the communities they represent. Then we have PAS which claims to take care of Muslims.
It’s all about politics and getting political power more than anything else.
Parties from the other side of the divide would jump into the fray too, lest they miss out on the votes.
Of course, we have the likes of Perkasa whose leader Ibrahim Ali recently told Khairy if Malays are not treated well, “they will create extremism and terrorism”.
If that is not a threat, I don’t know what is. But the thing is, Perkasa and others like it have been “tolerated” by the powers that be. That’s the impression anyway.
Hence, the wall. Are our political leaders willing to break it down?
We do not know when the general election will be held despite the speculations, but we can safely conclude that race and religion will be prominently featured in the quest or votes.
Its has happened already. We are hearing fiery speeches warning Malay Muslims not to vote for those who do not want to develop Islam.
Take a look at Act 355 issue brought up in the Parliament recently. It was given such a twist that it has led to a situation of putting Muslims on one side and non-Muslims on the other.
So too the Zakir Naik issue.The Indian Muslim preacher’s permanent residence status offered by the Umno-helmed BN government has created a stir among Indian Malaysians, in particular.
In all probability such strategies will bring in the votes for Umno and PAS.
But we have a “us” and “them” situation: politicians pitting Malaysians against Malaysians. Divisive politics at its ugliest!
And that, as I see it, only strengthens the very wall we want torn down.
A final point before I sign off. Bangsa Malaysia must not be a mere name change. It must not be “cosmetic”.
Bangsa Malaysia must be prominent — well and above any race or ethnicity in this country, meaning every Bangsa Malaysia must be on the equal footing. No special privileges for the privileged.
Khairy gathered his information from sessions of the TN50 dialogue. The Bangsa Malaysia dream came up after he had met young Indian and Chinese Malaysians.
Perhaps it will be good for Khairy to pick up the thoughts of the young in Umno under his charge on that noble dream.
I join fellow Malaysians in prayers that Bangsa Malaysia will become a reality, sooner rather than later.
We’ve waited 60 years. Another 30 years is like eternity!
– Mysinchew
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